Stable, stronger, lower bulk and drag netting

Abstract

The present invention includes an improved method of making knotted netting panels ( 62 ) in which pairs of mesh bars ( 66 ) are knotted at intersections between lines ( 22, 34 ). The improved method includes forming a first loop ( 24 ) in the line ( 22 ) through which the line ( 34 ) helixes to form a second loop 36 ). Another aspect is improved knotted netting which includes at least two continuous lengths of line ( 22, 34 ) that form pairs of mesh bars ( 66 ) that are knotted together using the knot described above. A final aspect of the invention is an improved trawl that includes improved knotted netting made from twines ( 22, 34 ) that have a lay direction (IIZ” or lIS”). The lay direction (IIZ” or lIS”) of twines ( 22, 34 ) are opposite to the direction (lIS” or IIZ”) of loops forming the knots. Cambered sections ( 41 ) in the lay direction twines ( 22, 34 ) which face outward from an outer surface of the improved trawl are oriented generally toward the front and back of the trawl.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An improved method of making knotted netting that includes mesh cells having pairs of mesh bars fabricated from at least two continuous lengths of twine, pairs of mesh bars of each mesh cell being knotted at intersections between twines, the improved method of making knotted netting comprising the knotting steps of: 
 a) forming a first of the twines into a closed first loop thereby establishing a region in a standing portion of the first twine in which the first twine is doubled;    b) passing a tag end of a second of the twines through the first loop;    c) helixing the tag end of the second twine around the region in the standing portion of the first twine in which the first twine is doubled to again pass for a second time through the first loop thereby establishing a second loop in the second twine; and    d) tightening a knot that now couples together the first and second twines as established by steps a) through c) above by pulling on all sections of both twines extending away from the knot.    
     
     
         2 . The improved method of  claim 1  wherein the first loop and of the second loop have opposite turn directions (“Z” and “S”).  
     
     
         3 . The improved method of  claim 1  or  2  wherein at least one of the twines has a lay direction (“Z” or “S”), further comprising the step of selecting the lay direction of the twine to be opposite to a direction (“S” or “Z”) of the loop formed in the twine.  
     
     
         4 . The improved method of  claim 1  or  2  further comprising the step of juxtaposing at least one additional twine throughout the knot with at least one of the twines.  
     
     
         5 . The improved method of  claim 1  or  2  further comprising the step of, before tightening the knot, forming another loop in the first twine that is juxtaposed throughout the knot with the first loop formed therein.  
     
     
         6 . The improved method of  claim 1  or  2  further comprising the step of, before tightening the knot, forming another loop in the second twine that is juxtaposed throughout the knot with the second loop formed therein.  
     
     
         7 . An improved netting comprising: 
 at least two continuous lengths of twine, portions of said twines forming pairs of mesh bars that are included in mesh cells; and    knots that join together mesh bars of mesh cells, each of said knots being established by: 
 a) forming a first of the twines into a closed first loop thereby establishing a region in a standing portion of the first twine in which the first twine is doubled;  
 b) passing a tag end of a second of the twines through the first loop;  
 c) helixing the tag end of the second twine around the region in the standing portion of the first twine in which the first twine is doubled to again pass for a second time through the first loop thereby establishing a second loop in the second twine; and  
 d) tightening each knot that now couples together the first and second twines as established by the preceding operations a) through c) by pulling on all sections of both twines extending away from said knot.  
   
     
     
         8 . The improved netting of  claim 7  wherein the first loop and of the second loop have opposite turn directions (“Z” and “S”).  
     
     
         9 . The improved netting of  claim 7  or  8  wherein at least one of the twines has a lay direction (“Z” or “S”), and the lay direction of the twine is opposite to the direction (“S” or “Z”) of the first loop formed in the twine.  
     
     
         10 . The improved netting of  claim 7  or  8  wherein at least one of the twines forming at least one of the knots in the improved netting further comprises another twine which is juxtaposed with that twine throughout the knot.  
     
     
         11 . The improved netting of  claim 7  or  8  wherein, before tightening the knot, a another loop is formed in the first twine that is juxtaposed throughout the knot with the first loop formed therein.  
     
     
         12 . The improved netting of  claim 7  or  8  wherein, before tightening the knot, a another loop is formed in the second twine that is juxtaposed throughout the knot with the second loop formed therein.  
     
     
         13 . An improved trawl which includes bridles, frontropes, wings, and riblines, wherein the improvement comprises knotted netting that includes: 
 at least two continuous lengths of twine, portions of said twines forming pairs of mesh bars that are included in mesh cells, at least one of said twines having a lay direction (“Z” or “S”); and    knots that join together mesh bars of mesh cells, said knots being established by: 
 a) forming a first of said twines into a closed first loop thereby establishing a region in a standing portion of the first twine in which the first twine is doubled; when the first twine has a lay direction, the lay direction being opposite to the turn direction of the first loop;  
 b) passing a tag end of a second of said twines through the first loop;  
 c) helixing the tag end of the second twine around the region in the standing portion of the first twine in which the first twine is doubled to again pass for a second time through the first loop thereby establishing a second loop in the second twine; when the second twine has a lay direction, the lay direction being opposite to the turn direction of the second loop; and  
 d) tightening each knot that now couples together the first and second twines as established by the preceding operations a) through c) by pulling on all sections of both twines extending away from said knot; and  
   for twines that have a lay direction, cambered sections that are present on such twine and that face outward from an outer surface of the improved trawl being oriented generally toward the front and back of the improved trawl.    
     
     
         14 . The improved trawl of  claim 13  wherein the first loop and of the second loop have opposite turn directions (“Z” and “S”).